Israeli police say the country's contentious foreign minister should be indicted on charges of trying to disrupt an investigation into his business dealings.

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said Monday that an investigation has shown Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman should be charged with breach of trust.

This is the first in a long series of steps that could lead to an indictment. Lieberman, who is known for his blunt, hard-line pronouncements, has denied wrongdoing.

Police suspect an Israeli ambassador tipped off Lieberman in 2008 that Israeli police were asking Belarus to help their money laundering investigation against him.

Lieberman has faced corruption suspicions before but has never been charged.